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Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

Those of us who use natural products know that packing in the chemicals is unhealthy. It changes the natural balance of things. What about antibacterial soap, can it effect our ability to be naturally immune, effect our hormones, cause other issues?

Re: Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

My nephew, who is 20, has refused to use antibacterial soaps for years (not that they were ever in MY house). Last fall at college, his biology class took samples of the gunk under each student's fingernails. The students who DID NOT use antibacterial soap had lower bacteria counts. Interesting.

Re: Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

Last year I used some instant hand sanatizer out at a mall where they have a public hand sanitizer station. It was flu season. I remember some lady flipping out telling me that it's horrible stuff and will lower immune function and make you more susceptible to getting sick. I am sure the studies above share the same concepts she brought up.

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Re: Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

Articles in the Times and Wall Stt. Journal today say many studies prove that these soaps mess with children's hormones. They also wipe out the good bacteria, creating weak immune systems.

The government is finally questioning them, but is waiting for more proof before they ban them.

I think these are harmful and just another ploy by business to convince us we're in need of something - and we're dirty, too. Should be banned, along with many of the other chemicals. Soap and water are more effective in hand-washing.

Re: Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

I don't like to use anti-bacterial soap as a normal practice. I do believe they have some medicinal purposes. There are types of infections and illnesses where the use of them during a short period makes sense. Overuse does not make sense to me.

Re: Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

I've used anti-bac hand soaps for years. Bath and Body Works is a guilty pleasure for me. But I also use regular hand soaps--I tend to alternate more for economic reasons than for health concerns. In other words, If I'm out of B&BW soaps I switch to plain soap for awhile, til the next big sale. And at the holidays I usually use Method hand soaps because I love their Christmas scents. They're not anti-bac.

I don't know... I just find it hard to believe that these anti-bac hand soaps can cause so much trouble. If you use nothing BUT these kinds of soaps, maybe. Especially if you use anti-bac soaps in the bath as well. I can see where that would be way too much and could be a problem. But if you've got anti-bac soap at one sink, and plain at another, and you only use it on your hands, I can't imagine there would be an issue. Moderation, I guess, as always is the key, at least in my opinion.

Re: Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?

For me, the problem is not so much personal as society-wide. I'm not so concerned that using antibacterial soap will make me sick directly, but when practically everyone everywhere is using it, the bacteria just develop a resistance. These soaps may wipe out "99.9 percent" of bacteria, but the 0.1 percent that survive will spread and be harder to wipe out. So the more we use this stuff (and use antibiotics as preventatatives in animals that aren't sick, and treat humans with antibiotics when they aren't appropriate, etc.), the tougher the germs become.

The direct cause-and-effect link, I think, is more important for parents of small children. That is, if kids aren't exposed to *some* germs when they're young, their immune systems won't develop normally. I believe this is known as the "hygiene hypothesis," and it seems to be gaining increasing acceptance in the mainstream medical community.

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Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for his or her own situation.